Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 851,772. PATENTED APR. 30, 1907.

L. PEDERSON. AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 29.1907.

' W/TNESSES.; w1

f( 6 i I j? ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT EETCE.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

atented April 30, 1907.

Application iiled January 29, 1907. Serial No. 354.736.

T all whom, it n1/rtg con/cern:

Be it known that l, Lans PnnEnsoN, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Leland, ingthecounty of Lasallefand State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Acetylene- Gas Generator, of which the following is a i specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in acetylene gas generators, and its object is to provide means whereby the generator is made entirely automatic in its action to supply the gas at a predetermined constant pressure so long as the supply of l calcium carbid may last.

To this end, the invention consists of two connected water tanks, one of which is supplied with a carbid holder and a floating water carrier movable by variations in the water level in the tanks to lift the water into contact with the carbid, the latter' being normally stationary. The water level is determined by the pressure of the generated gas caused by the wetting of the carbid by the water contained in the lloating vessel, and should there be an excess amount of gas generated over and above a predetern'iined pressure, the connection between the acetylene gas generator and the service pipes is automatically cut oil, so that the pressure in the service pipes may never exceed a certain predetermined pressure irrespective of the amount of pressure that maybe formed in. the gas generator.

The invention will be Afully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which,-

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the interconnected tanks constituting the acetylene gas generator; and Fig. 2 is a similar section, partly in elevation, showing a different phase of operation of the device.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a tank 1 which may be of cylindrical iorm and is closed at the bottom and open at the top. There is also another tank 2 of similar structure, closed at the bottom and open at the top. Vithin the tank 1 there is a bell cylinder 3, closed at the top and loosely iitting in the tank 1 with its lower edge resting on the bottom ofthe tank 1 and provided with openings 4. The tank 1 contains water, as indicated, to a certain level. lVithin the tank 2 there is another bell-shaped cylinder 5 having openings 6 at the bottom where it rests upon the bottom of the tank 2. On the top of each bell cylinder 3 and 5 is a latch mechanism comprising a rotating plate 7 having at intervals peripheral passages 8 arranged to match lugs 9 projecting inwardly from the inner walls of the tanks 1 and 2, and these plates 7 and lugs 9, together with the passages S, coact to constitute bayonet latches whereby the bells 3 and 5 may be securely locked in the tanks 1 and 2 against upward movement when once seated therein. lf desired, the members of the bayonet catch carried by the bell cylinders 3 and 5 maybe made an integral part thereof, or rotatably movable therewith, so that on the rotation of the cylinders themselves they may be made to latch under the lugs 9.

The upper wall of the bell 3 arranged an upwardly-projecting double wall collar 10, composed of two concentric spaced members, the inner one 11 oi which is connected to the outer one at the upper edges by an integral annulus 12, The collar is provided with a number of ears 13 to which are pivoted L-shaped latch bars la, having the shorter arm projecting radially toward the center of the collar and there carrying thumbscrews l5. Arranged to lit over the collar 10 is a cap plate 16 provided with a has centrally central boss 17 1n which is secured a short nipple 1S receiving at its upper end a gland 19 constructed to retain packing 20 within the nipple. Centrally through the gland and nipple and the packing therein is a rod 2l terminating at its upper end in a suitable handle. F ast on the under side of the cap plate 16 is an annular sleeve 22 in which travels the top plate 23 of a pcrvious carbid-containing basket 24. ln order that the carbid may be placed in the basket the top plate 23 may either be made in the form of a spider, or an opening may be made in this cover for the purpose, or the basket 2-/1 may be removably attached to thc cover. In fact, any suitable means may be provided whereby the carbid may be placed within the body olc the basket and the latter be carried by the top plate 23.

W'ithin the bell 3 and concentrically located with relation to the same is a cylindrical vfloat carrying a concentric U-shaped annular trough 2G, so spaced as to receive the wall 11 of the double collar 10, and this trough is designed to receive water so thatit coacts with the wall 11 to form a water seal for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. Interior to the trough 26 is another annular trough 27, concentric with the trough 26 and removable from the float 25, simply resting thereon by gravity and not being otherwise fastened thereto. The central bore 28 of the trough through the float 25 both above and below the same, as shown. Below the float 25 there is a grid 30 to the outer edges of which are attached two rods 31 diametrically disposed and extending up through guiding pipes 32 fast to the upper or top wall of the bell 3 and projecting upward above the same and preferably to a point about level with the top of the tank 1. The rods 31 extend entirely through these pipes and are supplied with handles 33 by which they may be lifted and thereby lift the Orid 30 until it engages under the float 25 an the latter may then be lifted by the grid until stopped by the top of the bell 3. The pipes 32 contain suitable packing retained in place by glands 34. The frictional contact between the packing and the rods 31 will be sufficient to hold these rods. and the parts carried thereby in any adjusted position.

Near the bottoms, the two tanks 1 and 2 are permanently connected through a pipe 35, and at the bottom and extending between the tanks and to the center of each is a pipe 36 formed of several sections and including a valve 37 between the two tanks and two T-couplings 38-39 exterior but close to the two tanks. Connected to the pipe 36 at the center of the tank 1 by means of an L.-coupling 40 is an upright pipe 41 extending up through the pipe 29 to a point near the top of the dome of the bell 3 formed by the collar 10 and cap plate 16 thereof. At the center of the tank 2, the pipe 36 is connected by an L-coupling 42 to an upright pipe 43 extending to a point close to the top of the bell 5 and above the normal water level therein. Screwed into'a boss 44 formed at the center of the bell 5, is another pipe in line with the pipe 43 and opening at its lower end into the interior of thebell 5. This pipe 45 is connected to an L-offset 46 formed on one side of a valve casing 47 having a valve stem .48 projecting downward below the same in the path of a head 49 formed on the upper end of a rod 50 passing downwardly through a guide bracket 51 fast on said pipe 45 and connected permanently to a float 52 normally resting on the top of the bell 5 or of the boss 44 formed thereon. A

The valve casing 47 is connected by a nipple 53 to a T-coupling 54 which, in turn, is connected in line with the nipple 53 with an escape pipe 55 opening to the external air. The T-coupling 54 is connected by a pipe 56 to another pipe 57 which, in turn, is connected to the T-coupling 38 in the pipe 36 with an j 27 fits around a pipe 29 projecting interposed valve 58 in said pipe 57. The T-coupling 39 connects through an interposed valve 59 with a pipe 60 leading to the service system. lt may be here stated that the valve within the valve `casing 47 is designed to open the pipe 45 to the escape pipe 55 only when there has been an abnormal generation of gas in a manner to be hereinafter described.

ln order to operate the machine, calcium carbid is placed within the basket 24 and water is placed 'within the annular trough or vessel 27 and this vessel is then placedupon the float 25, the latter resting upon the surface of the water already placed in the tanks 1 and 2. A certain amount of water is also placed in the annular trough 26 on the iioat 25. The cap plate 16 carrying the carbid basket is now placed upon the top of the collar 10 with interposed gas-tight packing 61 and-the cap is clamped to said collar by the clamp arms 14 and screws 15. During this time the rod 21 is pulled up so as to carry the basket 24 to its highest point which, inthe normal operation of the machine, will be above the water level in the vessel 27 on the lloat 25. This rod 21 and the parts carried thereby will be held in the elevated position by the frictional contact of the packing 20 therewith. Now, by depressing the handle '21 the carbid basket is carried into the water contained in the vessel 27 and the generation of acetylene gas proceeds. erated gas escapes around the lower edge of the wall 11 of the collar 1() and finds its way into the space above the water in the bell 3, for in this condition the water level in the annular vessel 27 is below the lower edge of the annular wall 11 before referred to. The gas also finds its way into the pipe 41, thence by pipe 36 (the valve 37 being open and the valve 58 closed) the pipe 43 and the interior of the bell 5 above the water level therein, and branches off through the valve 59 to the service pipe 60, in which latter the pressure is determined by the amount of gas within the bell 5. Suppose, now, that the gas is not used as rapidly as generated. There will be an excess pressure within the dome of the bell 3 and the water will be forced out of the same into the tank 1 and into the tank 2 through the pipe 35, raising the water level in each tank outside of the bell therein. The immediate result of this is that the float 25 drops with the drop of water level and the water level in the vessel 27 is carried below the carbid, thus stopping the generation of gas for the time. As soon as the pressure has lowered the water levels are again equalized and the float 25 rises so as to again meisten the carbid and the generation of gas proceeds. Unless the gas is used as rapidly as generated, the generation occurs intermittently as described. Now, suppose that for some reason an excess generation of The gentrough 26 but by the water acetylene should take when the idly and t place as might occur generation of gas is proceeding rape demand for gas suddenly ceases, as when a large number of burners are shut off at one time from the service pipe. The generation of gas under these conditions does not cease immediately when the water in the vessel 27 is moved below the carbid basket 24 but will continue for a while thereafter, since the carbid has been made pretty thoroughly wet and the excess water continues to generate gas for a time.

The waterlevel in the l bell 3 will be abnormally lowered and the` water level in the tank 1 will be abnormally raised. -Also, the water level in the bell 5 will be abnormally lowered and the water level in the tank 2 will likewise be abnormally raised. Under these conditions the water in the tank 2 will rise above the top of the bell 5 and reaching the float 52 will raise the latter until finally the head 49 on the rod isbrought into engagement with the valve stem 48 and the valve within the valve casing 47 is opened, thus allowing the escape of gas within the bell 5 to the external air through the escape pipe 55, whereupon the gas pressure within the generator will be reduced, until the water 7`levels arey again restored, or restored to such an extent as to disengage the head 49 from the valve stem 48. The purpose of using the tank 2 is to furnish a storage capacity for the gas so that there may be a larOe supply constantly on hand for service. tuppose, now, it is desired to recharge the machine. The valve 37 is closed and the valve 58 is opened. This will allow the pressure within the tank 1 to be reduced to atmospheric pressure through the pipes 57 and 56 which are directly connected to the exhaust pipe The rods 31 are now manipulated so as to raise the grid 30 and elevate the float 25 until the vwater contained in the annular trough 26 has covered the lower end of the wall 11 of the collar 10, thus sealing the interior of the bell 3 from the external air. When the float 25 is raised by the grid 30 the lower end of the pipe 29 is still below the surface of the water in the bell 3, and thus the gas contained within the bell is sealed not only by the water seal of the seal around the bottom of the pipe 29 which is made long enough for this purpose. The cover 16 may now be unclamped and lifted from off the collar 10, taking'with it the carbid basket. The vessel 27 may also be removed from the float and fresh water placed therein after the I spent lime has been dumped therefrom. The

basket will then be filled with fresh carbid and after the water vessel 27 has been replaced on the float and the grid 30 lowered until the float rests on the water in the bell 3, the cover 16 with the carbid basket filled with carbid may be replaced on the collar 10 and the machine again put in operation after closing the valve 58 and opening the valve 37.

In order that the normal water level within the tanks may be ascertained at any time, the tank 1 is provided with a water level indicator 62, which may or may not be graduated, as desired.

l claim 1. An acetylene gas generator comprising two interconnected tanks for water, each provided with a bell held against movement therein, a dome on one bell, an adjustable carbid carrier contained therein, a lloat within the domed bell, a water vessel carried by said [loat in operative relation to said carbid carrier, and connections between the dome and the interior of the bell contained in the other tank.

2. An acetylene gas generator comprising two interconnected water tanks, a bell ixed against movement in each tank and having free communication therewith at the bottom, means for generating acetylene gas contained in one tank, communications between the gas generator and the interior of the bell in the other tank, a valved escape pipe communicating with the last-named bell, and a .loat exterior to the last-named bell and in operative relation to the valve in the escape pipe.

3. An acetylene gas generator comprising a tank, a bell fixed against movement therein and communicating with the tank at the bottom, a dome formed on the top of the bell, a gas generating chamber formed in the dome at the top of said bell comprising a carbid carrier, a float, and a water vessel carried by said loat in operative relation to said carbid carrier.

4. An acetylene gas generator comprising a water tank, a gas bell normally fixed against movement therein, a dome formed on the top of the bell, a float within the gas bell, a removable water vessel carried by said float, and a carbid carrier within the domed portion of the bell in operative relation to the removable water vessel.

5. An acetylene gas generator' comprising a water tank, a bell fixed against movement therein and communicating with the tank at the bottom, a dome formed on the top of' the bell, a iloat within the bell, a water vessel carried by said float and entering the domed portion of the bell, a carbid carrier within said domed portion of the bell in operative relation to the water vessel, and a normally inoperativc water seal between the float and the dome of the bell.

6. In an acetylene gas generator, a water tank, a bell fixed against movement therein and communicating therewith at the bottom, a dome formed on the top of the bell, a [loat in the tank, a water vessel carried by said float, a carbid carrier in the denied portion of the bell in operative relation to the water ves- IOO IIO

sel a normally inoperative water seal carried by said float in operative relation to the dome, and a lifting means for carrying the float above the water level in the bell and rendering the aforesaid water seal operative.

7. An acetylene gas generator comprising a water tank, a bell normally secured therein, a collar projecting above said bell and having concentric annular walls connected at the top, a iioat contained within the bell and having an annularl trough receiving the annular wal of the collar and adapted to receive water, a removable water vessel carried by said float, a cap for said collar, means for securing the cap in place upon the collar, and a removable carbid carrier supported by said cap.

8. An acetylene gas generator comprising a water tank, a bell normally secured therein, a collar projecting above said bell and having concentric annular walls connected at the top, a float contained within the bell and having an annular trough receiving the annular wall of the collar and adapted to receive water, aremovable water vessel carried by said float, a cap for said collar, means for securing the cap in place upon the collar, a removable carbid carrier supported by said cap, and a lifting grid Jfor the float within the bell with means 'for operating the same exterior to the bell.

9. An acetylene gas generator comprising a water tank, a bell normally fixed therein and communicating therewith at the bottom, a dome formed on said bell, a carbid carrier contained within said dome, a float within said bell, a water vessel on said float, a normally inoperative water seal carried by said iioat, a gas pipe 'passing through said i'loat and communicating with the interior of the dome and leading to the exterior of the water tank, a pipe surrounding said gas pipe and Jfast to the float, extending at one end into the gas generating chamber and at the other end below the water level in the water tank, and means for raising the float above the water level in the bell and rendering the water seal carried by said iioat active.

10. An acetylene gas generator comprising a gas generating tank and a gas receiving tank,

connections between the same, a normally immovable bell in each tank and communieating with the tank at thev bottom, a gas generating chamber in one bell7 a carbid carl rier within the gas chamber, a float Within the last-named bell, a water vessel on the Vfloat in operative relation to theV carbid cari rier, a normally inactive water seal on the i float, means for lifting the float above the water level in the bell and thereby rendering the water seal active, a 'float above the bell in the gas receiving tank, a gas escape valve in the path of said iloat, and connections between the gas receiving tank and the external air including said valve.

l1. An acetylene gas generator comprising I a gas generating tank, a normally fixed bell therein communicating with the tank at the bottom, a dome on said bell constituting a gas generating chamber, a carbid carrier l Within the dome, a iioat in said bell carrying a removable water vessel in operative relation to the carbid carrier, a normally inactive water seal on the float in operative relation to the dome of the bell, means for lifting said float to4 carry the water seal into the dome and render the water seal active, a gas receiving water tank having a gas receiving bell normally liked therein and communieating therewith at the bottom, a pipe lead.- ing from the gas generating chamber to the gas receivingbell, another pipe connecting the two water tanks, a float upon the gas receiving bell, an escape pipe from said gas receiving bell to the external air, a valve within this pipe in the path of the float, service pipe connections between the gas conveying pipe between the tanks, a valve Jfor closing communication between the tanks, and a normally closed connection between the gas gen erating tank and the externalv air.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing as i my own, l have hereto aiiixed my signature l in the presence of two witnesses:

LARs PEDERsoN.

i Witnesses: l A. N. ANDERsoN, i OLE R. PEDERsoN 

